Huge Pokémon fan? Collected every card and on a constant hunt for merchandise? Went from Jurong to Changi when Pokemon GO was hot?

Then I bet you that you’ll be over the moon to hear this: Come 2019, there will be a new Pokémon movie with realistic Pokémon, Pokémon: Detective Pikachu.

And no, it’s not yet another cartoon. It’s a live-action movie with real actors and actresses, and erm, real Pokemons.

But of course before anything, let’s address the elephant in the room.

Is Ash in the Movie?

It appears that Pikachu has jumped ship, because Ash Ketchum is not his trainer this time round…

Instead, we have Tim Goodman, a failed Pokémon trainer. When his father (detective Harry Goodman) goes missing in a car crash, Tim pairs up with Pikachu (Harry’s former Pokémon partner) to uncover the mystery.

Wait, Tim what?

Justice Smith as Tim Goodman

The 23-year-old actor has been called a ‘breakout talent’ since Netflix musical drama series The Get Down. Smith played the protagonist Ezekiel Figuero.

Image: vulture.com

In 2017, Smith was an honoree on Forbes 30 under 30 list.

What struck me about Smith was his grounded-ness. In an interview with Forbes, Smith was asked to define success, to which he replied:

“Achieving your potential. If you keep your motivation intrinsic, it’ll free you up of all sense of hierarchy and competition with others. Success is a fleeting thing. Because at the end of the day whatever level you are at, there is always a higher place you can go. It’s important to appreciate it while you have it and then think about what you can change to better yourself at your next opportunity.”

Pokemon in Real Life

Now, as mentioned earlier, it’s going to be Pokemon IRL.

(Article continues below) Most Touching Singapore Video: Jenny is brought up by a single parent, and when she steps into adulthood, she starts to forget that her mother used to be her everything. Watch it here:

While I personally didn’t think it was odd to have realistic characters, many of you out there probably think otherwise. I mean, some Pokemons are flurry?!

Image: bbc.com

“Gross” seems like the most commonly used word to describe the movie and its characters. I might be the only but I don’t see anything horrifying about Pikachu…do you?

Image: warnerbros.com

Ok, I take my words back. Mr Mime looks like a peach Voldemort with horns. Plus his shoulders look like overripe stereos.

For the uninitiated, Mr Mime actually looks like this:

Image: bulbagarden.net

What the Mime, right.

Ryan Reynolds as Pikachu

Say what? Yes, Ryan Reynolds voices the iconic Pokémon in the movie. The 42-year-old Deadpool star is set out to rob our hearts once again by voicing the most beloved Pokémon character of the late 90s.

Image: hollywoodreporter.com

The charming actor even posted this on twitter:

Image: twitter.com

Pika Pika, indeed.

Did I get you really keen on the movie now? Well, you should be–it’s like watching a childhood fantasy come to life (though Mr Mime might bring back your childhood nightmare). Here’s a snippet of the movie:

The movie is scheduled to be out in May 2019 – which is also the period when the next Avengers movie be released as well.

Pokémon Center @ Jewel Changi Airport

And if the craze isn’t huge enough for you Pokémon fans, don’t forget that we are having our very own Pokémon Center in Singapore soon. This new Pokémon Center will be the first and only Pokémon Center opened outside of Japan.

Image: nitendosoup.com

That’s right, you’ll no longer have to hop on the plane to Japan to visit one. Just board the next train all the way down to Jewel Changi Airport. But remember, that’s all happening in 2019.